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Trump, Skittles and the death of real-time marketing
After Donald Trump Jr. tweeted a photo comparing Syrian refugees to a bowl of poisoned Skittles, many turned on tweet notifications for the Skittles brand. After all, this was the Mars brand’s Red Lobster-Beyonce moment — on steroids.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016
But Skittles chose to disengage, instead releasing a statement hours later to media. “Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don’t feel it’s an appropriate analogy. We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing.”
Sometimes, even in marketing, discretion is the better part of valor.
Experts say it was the best thing it could have done. PRWeek called it the best corporate response ever. And agency executive who didn’t want to be named because his agency does work with Skittles (although was not involved in this particular incident) said that this was the ideal response on Skittles’ part and completely in line with its zany brand identity.
On Twitter too, those in the business applauded the move. Brandwatch crunched the numbers and found that while sentiment online is split evenly between positive and negative, positive mentions are applauding Mars’ response.
The kerfuffle shows just how dead real-time marketing is. The days of “dunk in the dark” are mostly over. Real-time marketing is rarely discussed at awards shows and industry conferences. Along with that move has come the death of war-rooms at agencies set up just to chase down any pop-culture moment that might be worth a fired off tweet.
Strategically speaking, real-time marketing isn’t long-term. Chasing down a blip can’t be something that clients would buy as a strategy. “I do think the brand newsroom is dead,” said Nadina Guglielmetti, managing director of social media at Huge. “You do see less and less of brands doing less opportunistic marketing.”
Stakes online are also higher. Guglielmetti said that overall, clients are much more cautious about how to spend money. “Content is expensive and it’s harder for brands to stand out, it’s harder to break through.” Legal teams now sit closer to social teams ready to muzzle any over-enthusiastic social media managers.
Customers are also more aware about how the sausage is made, which makes brands less likely to jump in on conversations.
Skittles exec: We’re trending!
SE: What? What’s going on? [sees Trump ad] …aw, god damn it!
— Jordan K (@JoKuz) September 20, 2016
Of course, by all accounts, Skittles was all the internet could think about. According to Brandwatch, Skittles has been mentioned over 262,000 times online since September 13 with over 243,000 mentions coming in the past two days. The Trump Jr. tweet was sent at 7 p.m.: Skittles saw its mentions increase by over 11,300 percent after that. There were also fake “statements” sent around.
— Chris Scott (@iamchrisscott) September 20, 2016
Skittles has been involved in matters far beyond candy before. It was the candy Trayvon Martin was carrying when he was shot by George Zimmerman in 2013, and unwittingly became a symbol of his innocence. At the time too, the brand stayed uninvolved.
“The days of freewheeling around Twitter are over,” said Guglielmetti. “Social media has grown up.”
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T&G Global forecasts sharp profit drop due to Covid-19 disruptions
New Zealand-based T&G Global warned its profit this year may fall by as much as 76 per cent as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts its operations.
The company expects profit of between NZ$4 million (US$2.8) and NZ$10 million (US$7.1) this year, down from NZ$16.6 million (US$11.7) last year, chief executive Gareth Edgecombe said in a statement to the NZX. That follows a 64 per cent drop in first half profit to NZ$3.4 million (US$2.8 million).
Edgecombe said the outlook was “disappointing” and reflected updated forecasts across its business units.
The company’s apples business had faced shipping challenges, which impacted pricing and costs, especially in the Northern Hemisphere and Asia, he said.
Its international trading business had been hurt by shipping delays, market access challenges, and supply shortages, particularly from the United States and Australia, he said.
Meanwhile, its fresh business had been impacted by the shortage and cost of labour, the pricing of seasonal produce lines, restrictions on physical openings of independent retailers and foodservice businesses, and shipping delays for imported produce, he said.
This year’s profit will also include property disposals and plant write-downs, although the impact on profit is expected to be “largely neutral”, he said.
“T&G continues to adapt to the challenges of the current operating environment, and the board is confident that the resulting operational efficiencies will, along with the growing revenue streams from its genetics business, result in significant improvements in performance over the next year,” Edgecombe said.

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“Movers, shakers” descend upon ‘beautiful Samoa’
Samoa becomes the cultural heart of the South Pacific today, as the most powerful influencers, movers and shakers from the global travel industry descend upon beautiful Samoa.
They are in the country for the Samoa Tourism Exchange (S.T.E.) 2018.
These travel experts will enjoy everything Samoa has to offer and receive updates on some of their favourite Samoan products to promote Samoa to its key source markets.
Trade and media from Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, China, South Korea, USA, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and Europe will meet with local operators for product updates, selling tips and experience properties for themselves during the S.T.E.
The annual gathering of travel industry movers and shakers will kick off today, signaling the start of a three day networking event.
Delegates will attend a pre S.T.E. 2018 famil with property inspections and activities across Samoa as well as a Food and Cultural tour for all international buyers at the Samoa Cultural Village in Apia.
“The Samoa Tourism Exchange is one of the most important events on the Samoa Tourism calendar,” says Papali’i Sonja Hunter, C.E.O. of Samoa Tourism Authority.
“It is our opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen our travel industry partnerships and alliances and gives us another opportunity to wow the world with what Samoa has to offer.
“Declared by the Government as the Samoa Tourism Year, 2018, it is shaping up to be a dynamic and exciting year for our nation, with a focus on keeping it beautiful and keeping it real, through promotion of our friendly people, unique culture, delicious cuisine and pristine surroundings.”
The S.T.E. 2018 is from April 30th to May 2nd.
The official opening ceremony will be held at the Taumeasina Island Resort today.
Appointments between locals and wholesalers will be held at the state of the art Samoa Conference Centre at the T.A.T.T.E. Building in Sogi on the second day.
The closing ceremony will be held at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort.


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Joe Ybarra, one of the founding members of Electronic Arts, has told GamesIndustry.biz that the newly-formed publisher he's now working for can provide a greater sense of connected community than other MMO publishers currently offer.
The new publishing company, FireSky, will take responsibility for bringing forthcoming MMO Stargate Worlds to the market, and is a subsidiary of Cheyenne Mountain Studios.
The company will pioneer the development of its SNAP (Social Networks At Play) concept, and has four studios currently working on projects, although Stargate Worlds is the only one of those announced so far.
"We undertook the creation of the FireSky publishing label in order to provide us with an opportunity to start delivering products that we're characterising as SNAP games," Ybarra told GamesIndustry.biz.
"The concept behind this is that we feel there's an opportunity in the market place for us to deliver a more robust experience between both social networking types of applications, like MySpace or Facebook, together with triple-A, high-end gaming as well as other forms of gaming as well - and integrate the two into one destination portal that we'll provide to customers.
"A lot of the strategy for why we want to do that, comes down to that for an MMO, it's really important to recognise that we provide a service to our customers and that it's a top-to-bottom experience that they're going to enjoy - that's more than just the game.
"Reacting to that concept, we felt that as long as we were providing great customer care, a good infrastructure, good pricing models and various other things, it would also be good if we could provide a way for the customers to interact with each other outside of the game.
"In doing so, what we also wanted to do was deliver a wider range of content than just the MMO products, like Stargate Worlds, and to that end we have four studios now that are producing products, and we're in the process now of trying to find strategies from a publishing standpoint to integrate those products and deliver the social networking elements."
Ybarra, who has been named as FireSky's senior VP of strategic operations, is joined by fellow veteran industry figure Rod Nakamoto, who has been appointed to the role of senior VP of product development while Tim Jenson is the company's CEO.
The full interview with Joe Ybarra and Rod Nakamoto will be available on GamesIndustry.biz in due course.


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It was the third day of classes for a new, four-week Study Abroad course in Padua, Italy, and a group of BU students was on a scavenger hunt in the city’s outdoor market, the Piazza della Frutta. They were in search of examples of foods that could be included in the popular Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fresh produce, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and olive oil, as well as the consumption of fewer proteins and animal fats. Wine is even allowed, in moderation. The students used their smartphones to snap pictures of beans, plump raspberries, and purple and gold cauliflower, and brought their pictures back to class to illustrate how readily available these healthy foods were in the region.
“Padua has beautiful markets, nothing compares in the United States,” says Dana Steinmetz (SAR’18), one of the 11 students who signed up for the class, called Mediterranean Diet: Food, Culture and Health. “Unlike the United States, in Italy, organic is the norm; they don’t use pesticides. Everything was so fresh.”
The four-credit class immerses students in the food, agriculture, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle of the region while teaching the Mediterranean diet’s evidence-based research and its effect on culture, health, and disease prevention.
The course was the brainchild of Paula Quatromoni (SPH’01), a Sargent College associate professor and chair of health sciences.
A registered dietitian, public health activist, and epidemiologist, she says those three distinct but complementary roles helped her dream up a class that would be attractive to students across the University, including schools as diverse as Sargent and College of Communication. Sargent students, she says, were especially excited about the class since it was previously difficult for them to study abroad due to their programs’ rigid requirements and the order in which they are required to take classes.
Quatromoni, who hails from an Italian family, says the most recent US government dietary guidelines, published in 2015, made a real paradigm shift. “It’s not about any one food group, but rather a total pattern of eating,” she says. “The diet from the Mediterranean region of the world results in fewer chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular risk reduction, lower rates of diabetes, lower rates of cancer, a delay in cognitive decline, and lower mortality rates, overall.” The course is important, she says, because it teaches future nutritionists and dietitians how to guide patients as they follow the Mediterranean diet.
The class took advantage of its location in northern Italy by incorporating plenty of field trips to local vineyards and farms, a cheese-making class, a botanical garden, and lectures by local experts, including an agriculture professor, an elementary school dietitian, and an expert on Italy’s struggle with obesity.
That last one may surprise some. Although its traditional cuisine follows the standards of the Mediterranean diet, Italy, like many western nations, finds itself in the midst of an increasing obesity epidemic. The European Association for the Study of Obesity reports that while the country’s obesity problem might be mild compared to elsewhere in Europe, its childhood obesity rates are the highest of any European nation—about 35 percent of Italian children are overweight.
This fact startled Franki Toto (SAR’18). “Although much of their diet consists of pasta, fresh fruits and veggies, and lean meats and fish, I was surprised to see numerous fast food restaurants, or meal deals at restaurants sponsored by Coca-Cola,” she says.
One theme the class returned to again and again during their month in Padua was the idea of conviviality in Italian life. “Italians find it so important to share their culture,” Quatromoni says. “Every lunch and dinner is a chance to come together over the meal.” The Mediterranean diet stresses that experiencing a meal is as important as the food itself.
A cooking class in the town of Abano Terme underscored that point. The chef prepared a four-course meal of roast pork, vegetables, a vegetable flan, and a strawberry kiwi mousse for dessert. Red and white wines were served, and the students sat down with the chef to enjoy the results.
During a visit from a local agriculture professor, the class discussed how the ways animals are produced and raised can lower a farm’s carbon footprint. “The Mediterranean diet talks about eating foods that are in season and local foods, instead of using preservatives,” Quatromoni says. “It’s looking at how food is produced and respected. It’s the idea of slow food, the antithesis to fast and processed food. It’s returning to the traditional way of living.”
Steinmetz says she hopes to incorporate much of what she’s learned in the class after she graduates: she plans to become a dietitian working with children. She says the Mediterranean diet is so much easier compared with popular eating fads, like cleanses, that are hard to sustain in the long run. “The Mediterranean diet is sustainable,” she says. “It’s simple things and small changes that you can make in your diet that can cumulate to big benefits.”


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Apple's "Netflix for News" subscription service hasn't launched yet, but a new report from Wall Street Journal suggests that the tech company sees 50 percent of the revenue from the new service. The paid Apple News service is said to work much like Netflix or Hulu does for TV shows. Users would pay a single monthly fee to Apple and access a wide range of paid news sources and magazines that are all tied together.
But Apple is obviously in trouble with publishers over how much of the money (rumor to be $ 10 a month per subscriber) comes back to the content creators. According to WSJ Apple currently proposes deals where it would retain half of its revenue, while the other half would be split based on how much time users spend reading each publisher's content. The model is similar in ways that Spotify has calculated payments by artists previously based on overall listening times.
WSJ especially claims the proposed price spreading large news sites such as New York Times and Washington Post have not yet approved license content for the service. (For its part, WSJ also calls their own calls with Apple well.) Publishers are also concerned that they would not have access to subscriber data with Apple's news service, depriving companies of email and credit card information that is the key to marketing efforts, which leads to a different position.
We've also been on this road before ̵
Add to the press is that Apple's paid news service comes at a critical time for the company, one who has seen the iPhone sales decline and a new emphasis on services as a major source of revenue for the company. Apple News comes pre-installed on each of the billions of iOS devices in the world, and even converting a fraction of those users to ongoing paid subscribers would be a huge addition to Apple's service business.
It's a strategy that the company has already used to achieve great success with Apple Music, leveraging its first-class positioning to offer real competition to Spotify. Taking a similar coup with News and its 90 million users would be the key to the company's future – but it must have convincing content, from partners who know the deal is worth it to achieve it. Requesting that already-justified news publishers struggle over just half of the total revenue per per-view output seems like a bad way to start.
Apple is still believed to negotiate precise details with publishers and finalize its service plans, rumored to be launched sometime later this year. So it is possible that this may change. But as a starting point for negotiations, it seems that Apple may be asking too much.


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High Quality Video Leads to Better Monetization, Says Panel
One thing is clear about the emerging online video business: consumers are willing to pay for higher quality. A panel at the recent Content Delivery Summit in New York City looked at the relationship between video quality and revenues.
Dave Moffly, the CEO of Baeblemusic.com, started things off with a look at how his company presents original online video and how it works with partner Highwinds. Then, Brad Altfest, principle solutions architect for Highwinds, talked about why his company transitioned from streaming RTMP video to progressive HTTP delivery.
"One of the reasons that we as an organization had made the decision to switch away from RTMP, just as the late, great Mr. Jobs had looked at the performance on the client device, we were looking on our back end at the performance of RTMP, and we weren't really seeing performance that we were looking for," noted Altfest. "So, that was one of the main drivers behind our switch to progressive, and we like to think that, a few months ahead of the curve, we had seen in our crystal ball that RTMP was rapidly going to become a thing of the past. Obviously, with the announcement by Adobe that support's going to be ending, clearly that born out to be true."
But in moving to HTTP, Highwinds gained even more benefits than its people expected.
"One of the reasons that we decided to do this case study today with Baeble was because they did the switch, but as much as it may have been initially necessitated by the technology landscape, it really wound up resulting in some significant performance enhancements and quality enhancements for both the user as well as for the content distributor," said Altfest.
View the entire video below and download Altfest's presentation.
The Impact of Video Quality on Monetization
When it comes to video on the web, delivering a quality experience is what drives customers and brings them back. This presentation will discuss some of the ways content owners can maximize their monetization strategy by ensuring a high quality video experience. Learn about the impact of switching from RTMP to HTTP, offering multi-platform adaptive bitrate streaming, multi-device targeting and how to drive a quality user experience by leveraging real-time analytics with measurable performance data.
Brad Altfest, Principal Solutions Architect, Highwinds
David Moffly, CEO, Baeblemusic.com
The future of CDN-delivered video is cacheable, HTTP streaming, with MPEG DASH ultimately taking over, says Highwinds' Chris Bray


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The United Auto Workers union plans to make Ford Motor Co. the focus of the next round of negotiations in its drive to fashion new contracts with domestic automakers as talks with Chrysler are placed on hold.
Chrysler officials have confirmed that the UAW has extended the maker’s contract until October 19th. Earlier this month, as the September 14th deadline loomed, there were signs Chrysler might, in fact, be the maker likely to come up with the first settlement with the UAW. But a last-minute snag appeared to scuttle the talks and the union went on to reach agreement with General Motors.
“We look forward to working with the UAW on a new tentative agreement that is fair to our employees and allows Ford to become more competitive,” Ford said in a statement late Wednesday.


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Juice It Up on Wednesday promoted Susan Taylor to be the company’s new president and CEO.
The 30-year industry veteran had been the smoothie and juice chain’s vice president of operations, a position she’d held since coming to the Irvine, Calif.-based company last September.
The 83-unit chain said Taylor will focus on the brand’s newest store design, to be revealed in a pair of locations this summer. The company will also focus on mobile ordering and delivery, revamping its loyalty program and develop new healthful products.
Chris Braun, executive partner with the chain’s owner, SJB Brands, called Taylor “a dynamic, people-oriented brand builder and franchisee advocate who is highly strategic and successful at driving results.”
He noted that Taylor “has made huge contributions in furthering the evolution of the Juice It Up brand” since her arrival in September.
Taylor takes over a mostly California brand that is focused on developing in that and other Western U.S. markets. SJB Brands, a partnership between Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme, along with Braun, acquired the company in 2018. Braun served as CEO during the two years since before ceding the role to Taylor.


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TwitchCon 2018 Locks in Sponsors, Tournaments
TwitchCon 2018 confirmed its lineup of sponsors and esports events ahead of this year’s gathering, which begins on Oct. 26 in San Jose, CA. Overall, more than 140 exhibitors will take part in this year’s festivities, with premier sponsors and activations that include:
- Kakao Games –Diamond sponsor which will be showcasing Black Desert Online’s new expansion, Drieghan, which will be playable on 46 high-end Alienware PCs. Drieghan will feature a large mountainous area, over 300 challenging quests, fresh nodes to conquer and a new menacing dragon boss called Garmoth, set for release on Nov. 14.
- Legion, by Lenovo – Fans can stop by TwitchCon 2018’s Platinum sponsor booth #315 for a chance to win prizes, get hands-on experience with their products, and a few surprises all weekend.
- Level up TwitchCon with Twitch Prime – Twitch Prime members unlock exclusive perks, including a $10 credit and free Twitch tote bag at The Loot Cave and access to the Twitch Prime Lounge which will host special meet-and-greet events with broadcasters, and more!
- Intel Streamer Zone –The Intel Streamer Zone will host 72 streamers all weekend long for more than 108 hours of content.
On the competitive gaming front, play will include the Broadcaster Royale: Omen Challenge – where the biggest PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds streamers go head-to-head, the Doritos Bowl where Ninja, Shroud, CouRage and DrLupo compete in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the Fortnite Fall Skirmish – Grand Final and Games Done Quick a 50+ hour speedrunning marathon benefiting charities taking place in TwitchCon Charity Plaza.


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Samsung Galaxy Note series has been discontinued to be replaced with Samsung’s foldable model in the future. According to reports that the company does not have plans to release an updated Note device until 2022.
Samsung has also stayed out of the launch of the Note device until 2021. Korean web site ETnews declares that Samsung has pulled the Note range from the upcoming year’s production plans.
We already know we know that Samsung Galaxy Note is dead, according to the Samsung Galaxy Note has been canceled but new reports indicate that it will be included in Samsung’s plans for the future.
“Samsung Galaxy Note” To Be Replaced With Galaxy Z Fold
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold is one of the first foldable devices to be released. The Galaxy Z Fold3, Samsung nailed everything from the hardware aspect to the software integration. The Fold series becoming more mainstream as well as is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra sporting the S Pen, it makes sense to stop selling the Note.
As per the reports, Samsung made 3.2 million of its Samsung Galaxy Note20. It is the final item in the Note series since Samsung has announced that it will be removing the Note20.
According to reports, Samsung sold 12.7 million Galaxy Note series devices in 2019 and 9.7 million units in 2020. Samsung is now planning to launch 13,500,000 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 by 2022. It will not only outstrip the Note series’s sales but will also make this Fold official substitute for the Note.
When it comes to the choice The most recent Note series devices are difficult to differentiate from the older S-series models. The S series and the most recent Fold3 come with S Pen support that was prior to this time exclusive to the Note series.
In the realm of screen real estate also it is clear that the Samsung Galaxy Fold3 beats the Note 20 by a relatively significant margin. Additionally, the S-series and the Fold series are both more refined and future-proof. They also offer better quality for the money over the Note 20. Note.
What do you think of the new Samsung Galaxy Note20 and its features? Should Samsung extend the Note another year or do you think this decision of replacing it with the Note using the Fold is just right? Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment.


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The jury overseeing the DAME Design Awards said this year’s entries were unusually strong. The awards, which will be presented at the Metstrade Breakfast Briefing on Nov. 19, attracted 118 entries from 27 countries. The jury nominated 59 products as finalists.
Birgit Schnaase, the DAME jury chair, said in a statement design was important to shortlisting the entries. “It is critical that marine companies focus on design, in all of its aspects, to ensure that consumer expectations are met when they go boating,” said Schnaase in the statement. “We also need smart design to address important issues like production efficiency, environmental impact improvement and greater integration.”
The judges noted “strong themes” across the entries, including the increased use of environmentally friendly materials and greater adaptation of technology to improve boating accessibility for owners and their guests.
The jury of nine experts nominated a field of products that ranged from new materials and personal products for use on board, to advanced electronics, generators and other equipment.
“The mix of entries we examined this year demonstrates that many marine companies are paying really close attention to form and function, with solutions that will improve the experiences of those getting afloat,” Schnaase said.
The 59 products will be on display at the DAME Design Award exhibition during Metstrade, which runs Nov. 19-21 at RAI Amsterdam.


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The Asus-built tablet will be the first "Nexus" Android tablet, coming with a vanilla version of Android 4.0 that does not include any third-party user interface or bloatware apps.
Rumors have been swirling for months about the tablet, which was first reported to be released in May. The device had to be pushed back to July due to "design issues," says the report.
Supply chain sources say Google has ordered 600,000 tablets for June with a plan to ship 2.5 million by the end of the year.
If past rumors prove accurate, the device will run on a powerful dual-core processor, include mid-to-high end specs and sell for just $150, undercutting the feature-strapped Amazon Kindle Fire.
Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 May 2012 21:46


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Microids announced the point-and-click adventure Syberia 3 in 2012, saying that it would be out sometime in 2014, or maybe 2015. That eventually became 2016—December 1, to be specific—but today the studio said that date isn't going to work out either.
"After the unprecedented excitement we have seen for this game, we decided to bring even more depth to Kate Walker’s new adventure," Microids vice president Elliot Grassiano said in a statement. "We are aware that fans around the world are eager to embody Kate Walker again but we need additional time to provide them with an adventure that can live up to their expectations in this fascinating universe.”
"I am obviously disappointed that Syberia 3 is delayed because we would like to release our games as soon as the storyline is written, but I'm also relieved that Microïds has taken the decision to postpone the game's launch because it is essential to offer players the best gaming experience possible," Syberia creator Benoit Sokal added. "We decided to add even more cinematics to this new fiction, more optional narrative sequences as well as new languages for the voice-over, which represents considerable work for team."
Syberia 3 is now slated for release sometime in the first quarter of 2017. It will be fully dubbed in French, Russian, Polish and German, with subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, Czech, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and simplified and traditional Chinese, and feature a soundtrack by Inon Zur, whose previous work includes Fallout 4 and Dragon Age. It's available for pre-purchase, for $40/£30, on Steam.


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The service team at O'Reilly and Son Volkswagen Longford.
O’Reilly & Sons Volkswagen Longford can now lay claim to being the best Volkswagen Service centre in the country in terms of service quality.
They have recently won the prestigious service quality award for 2017, beating off stiff competition from over 40 other Volkswagen aftersales dealers around the country.
The award is based on a number of measurements including overall customer satisfaction, knowledge of the aftersales staff, and quality of the work carried out.
Speaking on behalf of O’Reilly & Sons, General Manager Kevin O’Reilly said “ I’m delighted for the team here, that they are getting the recognition they deserve. Over the last 2 years, a lot of hard work has gone into achieving this. The level of service and aftersales care that we are now providing to all of our customers is second to none. This level of attention to detail, our loyal customer base, and a significant investment in tooling, equipment and training means that we are in a position to provide a service to the highest standards expected.”


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LONDON, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Retail volume in Britain climbed in September, beating expectations slightly, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday.
ONS said retail volumes rose 2.2 percent from September 2012. Economists had expected a gain of 2.1 percent.
Retail also rose compared to August, climbing 0.6 percent.
ONS also selects out a rolling average using three-month time periods. In September, the three month average showed gains for the seventh consecutive month, an indication that the gains have become an established trend, ONS said.
Retail sales rose 1.5 in the third quarter from the second, the largest quarter-on-quarter rise since March 2008 "when the economy as a whole was at its peak, before the economic downturn," ONS said.
Store receipts also rose, climbing 3.2 percent compared to September 2012 and 0.5 percent compared to August 2013.


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RELATED: Memo from 8020’s CEO
8020 Media, a publisher heralded for its community-driven editorial model, is shutting down.
The four-year-old company, which had published JPG, a photography magazine comprised of user-submitted content, simply ran out of money, its CEO, Mitchell Fox, wrote in a memo late last week.
“In the face of these extraordinary economic times, in a devastated advertising climate, we can no longer continue to operate the business due to lack of funds,” he wrote. “So, while we sit here at the precipice of profitability, the negative marketplace forces are too strong to overcome, and we must take this regrettable action.”
8020 had been backed by Halsey Minor, the founder of CNET. According to a post on the New York Times Web site, Minor had recently offered to sell 8020 to Meredith and Condé Nast, without success.
According to the post, 8020’s 18 employees were given the holiday week off. During the week, they received individual telephone calls and e-mails with the news that the company had exhausted its options and would shut down.
“There is no doubt that our company has done what no others have yet to do,” Fox wrote. “That is, prove that the Web and print can work effectively together, one supporting the other.”
“However, none of us could have predicted the global economic collapse we’ve witnessed in the past few months,” Fox continued. “So our timing to grow the business and bring it to profitability through even the smallest amount of additional funding could not have been worse.
In August, the San Francisco-based company was forced to fold Everywhere, its travel magazine. At the time, Fox told FOLIO: that 8020 would not only relaunch Everywhere “before the end of the year for sure,” the company would launch as many as three new titles in the first quarter of 2009.
Even before the shuttering of Everywhere, there was trouble at 8020. Husband and wife co-founders Derek Powazek and Heather Powazek Champ left the company in 2007 over “significant differences of opinion regarding the direction of 8020." The pair, which founded 8020 with Paul Cloutier in 2004, accused Cloutier of rewriting the company’s history.


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Weidmann: Globalisation isn't a zero-sum game
Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann today kicked off Germany's G20 presidency in Berlin. In their remarks, each underlined the importance of open markets for the global economy.
Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann today kicked off Germany's G20 presidency in Berlin. China, which had previously presided over the "Group of Twenty", passed the symbolic baton to the Federal Republic of Germany at an official event attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Germany, Mr Shi Mingde.
Dr Schäuble expressed his thanks to China for the excellent work done during its presidency which Germany, he said, would aim to continue. From today until the end of November 2017, Germany will set the agenda for the "Group of Twenty" (G20), the main informal forum for economic cooperation among the most important industrial countries and emerging market economies.
Returning to nationalism and protectionism not an option
Dr Schäuble used his speech to underline how crucial it will be to find global solutions for global challenges.
"We will only overcome the problems we face in today's world by continuing to work together," he stressed.
is more important than ever". In Schäuble's words, globalisation has to be better designed if it is to benefit people and combat the growing sense of mounting inequality between rich and poor. Free trade worldwide and open markets were the key to achieving that goal, he reasoned, stating that
"a return to nationalism and protectionism is certainly not an option".
Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann's speech before several hundred delegates from the G20 member states echoed Dr Schäuble's call for open markets.
"Globalisation isn't a zero-sum game," he emphasised, noting that international trade improves everyone's welfare. This belief, he said, had united the G20 in the wake of the economic slump brought on by the financial crisis.
Mr Weidmann acknowledged that a growing number of people have been questioning the merits of open markets and cross-border trade, but said it would be wrong to ignore how closely economies are connected. He voiced his hope that the G20 will stand firm in its commitment to open markets and fair competition, that reforms stimulating growth and employment will be embraced, and that governments will strive to put their fiscal house in order on a sustainable basis.
Weidmann called for the G20 to discuss ways of making financial stability less vulnerable to high levels of government debt, reminding his audience that banking regulation continued to encourage banks to overinvest in sovereign debt. That, he noted, created a problematic doom loop between banks and sovereigns. He also hailed the merits of GDP-indexed bonds, which, if designed cleverly, could play a part in reducing the risk of sovereign default. In GDP-indexed bonds, coupon levels track the movement of a country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Highly promising innovations
Mr Weidmann's speech also covered the digitalisation of the financial sector, which will be one of the priority issues during Germany's G20 presidency.
"Digitalisation offers scope for financial market incumbents to harness cost-efficiency gains. But the fiercer competition it creates in what is already a challenging setting represents an additional challenge," he said.
The Bundesbank president was especially upbeat about the technological side of financial innovations, saying how a number of highly promising innovations have emerged that boast some practical benefits which were currently still impossible to fully fathom. One example he mentioned was distributed ledger technology, which is the platform used by bitcoin, the virtual currency, but is equally suited for transferring rights of ownership for other fungibles such as securities.
Promoting financial inclusion
Mr Weidmann noted that tech-savvy consumers in developed economies were not the only parties which stood to benefit from technological advances in the financial sector.
"The digitalisation of financial services opens up huge opportunities especially in less developed economies," he explained, highlighting the example of Kenya, where the number of people with an account has risen from 42% in 2011 to 75% in 2014. Weidmann made a point of explaining how financial inclusion stood to promote economic growth and reduce inequality, but he noted that it would only work if financial literacy levels were increased as well.
Taking a favourable view of the digitalisation of financial services
In Mr Weidmann's view, digital financial innovations, like the digital financial sector as a whole, need to be subject to smart regulation.
"You can't base a business model on a gap in the regulations," he said. Efforts to take stock of different regulatory approaches will therefore rank as a priority issue during Germany's G20 presidency.
Regulators today, Mr Weidmann remarked, have a decisive stake in shaping tomorrow's world of digital financial services.
"We should grasp this as an opportunity and take a favourable view of the digitalisation of financial services without losing sight of the inherent risks," the Bundesbank president stated.


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Between less steady growth on Facebook among Millennials to the adoption of new startup apps, this year was huge on the social front.Twitter went public, Facebook became more ad-heavy, Snapchat skyrocketed, and Foursquare... well, Foursquare is still having an identity crisis. But no matter, 2014 is sure to be just as influential in relation to culture, consumers, and social media. With big ideas in tow, our internal team at DigitalCoCo and Foodable rallied our thoughts and ideas together of what’s to come in the next year. In this article, we share five of them with you.
- Video Killed the Cable Star. Ok, maybe that’s a bit intense, but in 2014, we will continue to see video explode. From video consumption, video curation and creation, to broadcast and TV convergence, video platforms aren’t going anywhere. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Orange is the New Black and House of Cards is far from falling. These series aren’t backed by typical producers, but are doing extremely well. With platforms producing their own content, trends like binge-watching have taken on new waves. In 2014, we predict there will be more all-encompassing lifestyle brands utilizing video as a major content platform to engage with consumers. It started with Red Bull. More recently, Volvo has hit the viral mark with this video. Embedded storytelling within brand messaging pulls consumers to a brand rather than typical, promo ads that push. Read More


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Middleton, WI (31 March 2017) – ETC, located in Middleton, WI, announced today it has completed an acquisition of High End Systems from Barco Inc. High End will continue to operate as a separate company from its current facility in Austin, TX.
While High End products can be found lighting live event tours such as WWE, Jon
Bellion, and Alice in Chains, ETC products are found in well-known theme parks,
athletic stadiums, and lighting well-known shows like Hamilton on Broadway. The
addition of the High End products and technologies enable ETC to broaden its
strategic focus into the world of live events.
ETC CEO Fred Foster says, “We welcome the High End team to the ETC family. Both
companies have similar core values when it comes to innovation and I know working
together will be a great success. ETC will provide a strong support structure for High
End to continue to innovate and make great products for the industry.”


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The company confirmed the news to Pocket-lint, while also revealing few offers exclusive to the South Korean market including a free screen replacement and a 64GB microSD card. Additionally, the company has teased the camera on the LG G4 in a new teaser video.
Details about the one free screen replacement offer on the LG G4 is limited; though it seems to be on similar lines to HTC's recently announced 'Uh-Oh' protection plan that offers only one free replacement phone for cracked screen, water damage, and carrier switch within the first twelve months from the date of purchase. The offer as of now is said to be for a limited period starting April 29 to May 31.
After teasing the IPS Quantum displayon the G4 last week, LG has now shared a video teasing the capabilities of the new camera sensor on the smartphone. The new video shows professional photographer Colby Brown talking about various camera features on the LG G4.
The video stresses on the rear camera's wide f/1.8 lens and the professional-level controls that come preloaded in the G4. Previously, LG's components and materials subsidiary LG Innotek had provided several details about the cameras on the LG G4.
LG has till date confirmed a few other specifications for its upcoming G4 flagship. The handset will feature a 5.5-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) resolution IPS display with a pixel density of 535ppi; LG UX 4.0 with new features; 16-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture; LED flash and laser autofocus, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
LG, in an attempt to get early feedback, had recently also announced that it would give away 4,000 G4 flagship smartphones to select consumers.
The LG G4 launch event will take place in New York, London, and Paris on April 28 followed by an April 29 launch in Seoul, Singapore, and Istanbul.


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PARTNER NEWS: Mobile financial solutions firm Mahindra Comviva and mobile network operator Airtel Tanzania have jointly won the Global Telecom Business (GTB) Innovation Award for Airtel Money Tap Tap NFC Payments in the customer service category. “Airtel Money Tap Tap NFC Payments is the first-of-its-kind closed-loop NFC payments service that brings a paradigm shift in mobile money-based merchant payments, which so far were only performed using USSD and SMS,” Mahindra Comviva says. The service is powered by the company’s Mobiquity Money platform.
- Rambus publishes quick guide to Apple Pay
- Chinese banks roll out face recognition at the ATM
- Germany’s central bank reports on potential of blockchain for payments
- NXP releases NFC tag toolkit for iOS
- Banks back government-led Taiwan Pay QR payments service


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The alcoholic beverages in the United States are subject to federal and state excise taxes that affect the competitive landscape.
In addition to federal taxes, all states tax alcohol in some way.
According to the Urban Institute, state and local governments collected $7.5 billion in alcohol taxes in 2018, 0.2% of overall revenue, in addition to $10.1 billion from government-owned liquor stores.
Rates vary considerably between states and comparison is difficult due to different tax schemes.
Some jurisdictions, for example, apply a higher excise sales tax on alcohol, in addition to a per-gallon excise tax.
At least one state applies a property tax on aged whiskey.
According to a Treasury Department report, profit-taking by states can have the effect of taxes.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States developed a methodology for comparing state tax burdens on spirits by charging an excise rate to control state sales.
The Council determined that Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Alabama and Utah tax spirits the most, while Hampshire and Wyoming set prices so low in their state stores that they are comparable to selling without any state tax.
Numerous commentators for the Treasury Department report said complex differences in state tax regimes were a barrier to growth and competition.
State and local taxes are likely to affect competition in the beer, wine and spirits sectors, as well as sales in neighboring jurisdictions, but are outside the scope of that report.
Congress has imposed federal excise taxes on alcohol to increase revenue throughout US history: in 1791 to help pay off the national debt; in 1813 to help pay for the War of 1812; in 1862 to help pay for the Civil War; and continuing up to and after Prohibition.
Excise taxes on alcohol are currently viewed by the general public as a means of discouraging consumption.
Federal excise taxes are imposed on producers and importers.
They are usually passed on to the consumer in the form of price increases. In 2020, federal taxes collected on alcoholic beverages totaled more than $10.79 billion, $8.09 billion on domestic production and $2.7 billion on imports.


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Lenovo has unveiled its ThinkCentre line of desktops: the M92p and M72e. Both are equipped with Intel 3rd Generation Core Ivy Bridge processors. The company is infact pushing the idea of the M92 tiny desktop being only as thick as a golf ball. There’s no optical drive here, but the system is going to be available with Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors — up to either the Core i5-3410T or Core i5-3470T .The new Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e and M92p tiny will go on sale in June, priced from $499 and $799 respectively.
I2Mag, an Internet & Design Inspiration Magazine having emphasis on empowering and inspiring people by spreading the waves of knowledge. I2Mag is an independent news source dedicated to covering start-ups, reviewing internet products, social media, digital culture and technology news.


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March marks Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, and the Calgary Police Service is wasting no time in kicking into gear.
The service has announced in a release that it will be hosting fraud prevention workshops at the Central Public Library all throughout the month, touching on a range of different topics each week in an effort to educate the public on how to keep their finances secure.
The release also noted that CPS had received approximated 5,500 reports of fraud in 2019 and an estimated 5,600 cases in 2018.
- See also:
“While the numbers have stayed relatively close, police and local Fraud Prevention Month partners continue to work together to help citizens spot the red flags of common scams,” reads the release.
The month will kick off with CPS going over cybercrime and online scams, including phishing scams, employment scams, marketplace scams, online ticket scams, online identity theft, and WiFi hacks from March 2 to 6.
The following week will go over identity theft and fraud including phone and email scams and mail theft.
March 16 to 20 will touch on business scams and frauds, such as fake invoice scams, mortgage fraud, money laundered through real estate, sham charities, door-to-door scams, credit card fraud, and employee theft.
The last week of the month will educate Calgarians on mass marketing and phone scams, wherein victims receive calls from spoofed numbers, calls from fraudulent telemarketers, or mass mail-outs or subscriptions.
The Calgary Police Service won’t be the only organization on scene, either, as they will be joined by a large number of Fraud Prevention Month partners including The Real Estate Council of Alberta, Better Business Bureau, The Competition Bureau, The Bank of Canada, The Canadian Revenue Agency, Service Alberta, The Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, The Justice Studies department of Red Deer College, The RCMP, The Electronic Recycling Association, Alberta Securities Commission, Crime Stoppers, Immigrant Services Calgary, and the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council.
Anyone who has been a victim of a fraud or scam can report it to CPS at their non-emergency number of 403-266-1234.
Tips can also be left anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or through their website.


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In less than a decade, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (May 5“6) has grown from a niche event into an annual gathering that attracts upward of 15,000 attendees. In the May 2012 issue, Q&Q takes a look at four graphically inclined small presses that hope to make a splash at this year’s fest.
Eugene Zhilinsky started Editions TchaÃ¯ with his wife, illustrator and fashion designer Tatyana Yuditskaya, in 2005. The Russian-born, Toronto-based couple was having a hard time getting published, so they decided to go it alone. It’s been a hard-knock education in publishing, but the pair has figured it out on the fly. It was easy, Zhilinsky deadpans. We just bought a printing machine.
The couple tends to all aspects of production, even collating the final pages by hand. Add to that Zhilinsky’s full-time work as an architectural illustrator, Yuditskaya’s new clothing line, and their three-year-old daughter, and an already labour-intensive process becomes that much more complex. It’s why they keep print runs to 20 copies.
That said, in seven years, TchaÃ¯ has released 14 titles and published in three languages. Hungry Heart, a psycho-thriller about a small-town woman’s search for a glamorous man, and Ah, Gilgamesh, about the immigrant experience in the Middle East, both by Yuditskaya, were published in French and English. Sketches of the Time, an anthology edited by Zhilinsky, appeared in Russian.
Eugene Zhilinsky’s Rock Testament, co-written by Kimberley Whitchurch (Photo: Editions TchaÃ¯)
The pair believes their breakthrough title will be Rock Testament, co-written by Toronto caricaturist Kimberley Whitchurch and illustrated by Zhilinsky. Starring a street prophet preaching the gospel of rock ‘n’ roll in biblical Jerusalem, the book is part comic, part carnet de voyage.
Inspired by his 12-year stay in Jerusalem, Zhilinsky spent years working on the volume. Galleys in hand, however, he reluctantly admitted the text didn’t live up to his vision. Whitchurch, who originally agreed to proofread the manuscript, quickly found herself rewriting the book frame by frame. Sometimes you do need somebody on the outside, says Whitchurch, who’s now collaborating with Zhilinsky on a book of Toronto sketches.
TchaÃ¯ originally hand-printed Rock Testament last year, and has sold a smattering of copies online and at a few local bookshops. For the book’s official debut at TCAF, the pair hired a commercial printer to produce 500 copies and is hoping to land a distributor.
While he would happily sell his work to another publisher, Zhilinsky is proud of what he and Yuditskaya have accomplished at TchaÃ¯. All along, their aim has been to produce books that spark thoughtful discussion “ an ambition summed up by the company’s name. TchaÃ¯ is Russian for tea, and, Zhilinsky says, in his home country, the most engaged conversations happen over a cuppa.
Jeff Lemire and Top Shelf
U.S. publisher Top Shelf will have a big presence at this year’s TCAF. The featured publisher will spotlight six authors from its stable, including a couple of Canadians: up-and-comer Kagan McLeod, whose 2011 debut, Infinite Kung Fu, was praised by CNN, Paste Magazine, and USA Today; and Jeff Lemire, who will launch the Top Shelf edition of his 2003 self-published graphic novel, Lost Dogs.
That volume is in advance of the summer release of Lemire’s widely anticipated follow-up to his Essex County trilogy, which won a Joe Shuster Award and a Doug Wright Award, and brought Lemire to national prominence thanks to its appearance on last year’s CBC Canada Reads. Due in August, The Underwater Welder is a surreal sci-fi story about a tradesman who works on a Nova Scotia oil rig.
Top Shelf was formed 15 years ago as a joint venture between Brett Warnock, who had been publishing a comics anthology since 1995, and Chris Staros, an agent for several international cartoonists and the author of an annual comics-industry directory.
Jeff Lemire’s Lost Dogs (Photo: Top Shelf)
In 2003, Top Shelf published Craig Thompson’s coming-of-age memoir Blankets, a book credited with introducing the graphic novel format to a general readership. Since then, the publisher has grown into a five-person outfit operating on both coasts, publishing 20 to 30 books annually in both print and digital formats, selling into foreign markets, and attending more than 20 major events each year.
In the comic book industry we’re sort of considered an alternative publisher, explains marketing manager Leigh Walton. [Staros] cut his teeth in heavy metal bands back in the 1980s and, to a certain extent, I think we still operate the company like a band: we put out a new release and then we tour behind it.
Top Shelf’s author-focused approach attracted Lemire as a publishing newbie in 2006. Though his initial submission was rejected, the manuscript was returned, to Lemire’s surprise, with editorial comments. No other publisher did that, he recalls. It was really valuable to me because I was just starting out and I was still finding my voice as a storyteller.
A year later, Top Shelf accepted and published Essex County: Tales from the Farm. It instantly became like I was working with this close family, Lemire says. I’ve worked with a lot of publishers since, and I’ve never seen that anywhere else.”


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AirPods Studio To Retail For $349 And Launch This Fall
Last updated on May 20th, 2020 at 05:23 amPosted in Accessories, Leaks and Rumors by Patricia on May 10, 2020
successfully leaked the launch of the new iPhone SE earlier this spring!
This retail price will make the alleged AirPods Studio a direct competitor to premium over-ear headphones manufactured by Bose and Sony. More exactly, Apple’s new audio accessory will directly compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose 700, high-end noise-cancelling headphones. Expecting that the AirPods Studio will be crafted with Apple’s traditional exquisite taste for beauty and simplicity there is a good chance that we’re talking for the first time about a new market killer accessory!
AirPods Studio Launch Date
Another top-notch Apple leaker, Ming-Chi Kuo, has recently predicted that Apple’s over-ear headphones will enter mass production in mid-2020. Assuming that this timeline is still accurate and not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we can expect the AirPods Studio to be released this fall, alongside the iPhone 12 lineup!
AirPods Studio – What We Know
Name: AirPods Studio
Model Number: B515
Retail Price: $349
Est. Release: Fall 2020.
Fact: We’ll update this article as soon as more info is available!
What do you think about the rumored AirPods Studio? Do you consider purchasing them? Let us know in the comments section available below!
Related: Check out the most recent leaks about the upcoming iPhone 12 lineup. Price, main specs and more.


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There may be more bad news in store for 510 Madison Ave., the yet-to-open tower that was damaged in an electrical fire earlier this month. Sources say that its only office tenant, investment firm Jay Goldman & Co., may never move into the 30-story building which is owned by troubled New York developer Macklowe Properties.
Brokers note that its lease had several clauses that would allow the firm to get out of its deal to rent the buildings entire 19th floor, which covers about 11,500 square feet, and that it is attempting to exercise at least one of them. Sources said the company was paying an average of $145 a square foot over 10 years for the space.
Meanwhile, Jay Goldman & Co. can certainly stay in its current home at Carnegie Hall Tower at 152 W. 57th St.
It is all set for them to stay, said William Cohen, an executive vice president and principal at Newmark Knight Frank, who handles leasing in the building. Our arrangement is done.
However, Mr. Cohen noted that no lease has been signed.
Jay Goldman & Co. and a spokesman for Macklowe Properties, which owns 510 Madison Ave., declined to comment on the lease. The building does have one retail tenant: Luxury watch maker Tourneau.
The Macklowe spokesman said the building suffered minimal damage and that the fire wouldnt affect its opening which is slated for later this year.
Sources say that 510 Madison Ave. is having trouble attracting tenants because its debut is ill-timed for the current market. Equipped with a gym, pool and golf simulator, 510 Madison was designed to accommodate high flying hedge and private investment funds that would dole out significant sums for the plush amenities and Plaza District location. However, the recession and credit crunch have caused many such firms to either disappear or scale back and sublease all or some of their beautifully appointed offices.


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Banking on the support of customers for festive toy appeal
Staff at a Burnley bank always count on the support of loyal customers for the Burnley Express and Salvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal.
And Lloyds customers have not let them down, donating sackfuls of toys, games and books to the appeal.
Mrs Jane Harrison, a customer service adviser at the branch, said: “We have received some wonderful donations from customers yet again.
“They never let us down and this year has been the best so far and toys are being brought in every day.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support.”
Every year the generous residents of Burnley and Padiham donate sackfuls of toys, gifts and goodies for children across the borough.
Last Christmas 600 children in 150 families woke to presents under the tree donated through the appeal.
This year items for babies and teenagers are needed. Cash cannot be accepted but gift vouchers are welcome.
Selection boxes are welcome but electrical items, DVDS, items requiring batteries and toy weapons are not suitable.
Donations of large bin bags are also welcome but donated gifts should be left unwrapped and must be brand new.
Drop off points include the Burnley Express office at Business First on the Empire Business Park in Liverpool Road, the Salvation Army shop and Lloyds bank in Burnley town centre, Costa Coffee inside Tesco, Centenary Way and Asda in Princess Way, Burnley.
Capt Maisie Veacock of the Salvation Army said: “Every year the generosity of people never ceases to amaze us with the wonderful toys and gifts they donate.
“We are very grateful for the support because the donations help to make Christmas special for so many children.”
The toys are distributed through agencies in the borough and families wishing for toys must be referred through an agency.


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An aerial view of the Allentown Arena. (CONTRIBUTED RENDERING,…)
The Valley's most visible business developments of 2011 occurred in its two large cities, where a new casino hotel opened and plans for a new hockey arena moved forward, ambitious projects that are hardly representative of an otherwise struggling economy.
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened a 302-room hotel in May, a retail outlet in the fall and started construction of a new events center expected to open in the spring, projects postponed during the Great Recession.
These are important additions since a casino only delivers an economic boost when it attracts visitors from out of town. Casinos with mostly local customers merely peel discretionary spending away from other businesses. With hotel rooms, shopping and events such as concerts and boxing, the $800 million complex can only increase its draw.
New attractions didn't escape Allentown. The city made significant strides toward building an 8,500-seat hockey arena at 7th and Hamilton streets. Seeing the ambitious project move forward marks a major milestone for downtown Allentown, which has seen a string of false starts on other projects in recent years.
And plans to build a $50 million office complex near the arena are proof that a 130-acre Neighborhood Improvement Zone created to encourage development around the hockey arena with tax incentives can be a powerful tool to lure investment.
Both the hotel and hockey arena underscore an important Lehigh Valley trend, said Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
"It does show that there's a greater interest in our cities," Iannelli said. "The cities had been the stepchild to a lot of the development happening in other parts of the Valley. Now more than ever they're front and center, and that's good news."
Another major addition to the Valley is St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network's new Riverside Campus at Freemansburg Avenue and Route 33 in Bethlehem Township. The $150 million project provided a much-needed boost to the construction industry and emphasized how health care has held relatively steady through the difficult economy.
Online retailer Amazon.com's Lehigh Valley warehouse garnered international attention after a Morning Call story exposed working conditions many employees considered brutal. The Seattle company, which has a sprawling warehouse in Upper Macungie Township, went on the defensive following accounts of workers being taken out in stretchers and transported to hospitals to be treated for heat stress. An emergency room doctor who treated several Amazon workers called federal regulators to report an "unsafe environment."
The story also highlighted the significant leverage gained by employers in the weak labor market. Amazon employs a large number of temporary workers willing to haul inventory through a hot warehouse at dizzying rates for a shot at a permanent position.
There was plenty of bad news for endoscope and camera-maker Olympus Corp., a Japanese company with North American headquarters in Center Valley.
At the start of the year, Olympus was one of the Valley's few large corporate employers that bucked the Great Recession by adding employees instead of cutting payroll. But word of layoffs came in May when the company's new CEO announced a global cost-cutting initiative.
CEO Michael Wood's tenure was short-lived. After his abrupt dismissal in October, news broke about an accounting fraud scandal that dates back more than a decade.
The company's diagnostic endoscope business remains strong, and is expected to survive, possibly under new ownership. That leaves a big question mark over the company's Lehigh Valley operation, where 900 people worked as of last year.
One of the Lehigh Valley's biggest business stories of the year was one that didn't happen. Air Products made headlines in February when it walked away from its $5.9 billion hostile takeover bid for rival Airgas following a year of legal wrangling. Had it closed the deal, the Trexlertown gas-maker would have become the largest industrial gases company in North America. Instead, Praxair of Danbury, Conn. retains that distinction.
While Air Products saw a major deal unravel, the Valley's other Fortune 500 company continued to grow.
Allentown energy company PPL Corp. in March announced a $5.6 billion acquisition of British utility Central Networks, which serves 5 million people in England adjacent to a market served by another PPL subsidiary, Western Power Distribution. The United Kingdom expansion followed PPL's $7.6 billion purchase of two Kentucky utilities last year. Both deals represent PPL's effort to stabilize revenues by investing in government-regulated utilities, which are less volatile than unregulated electric sales that have slumped since the Great Recession.


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New rules on exercise in Wales will be coming into force on Saturday, February 20, amid a slight easing of lockdown restrictions.
Wales will remain in coronavirus alert level four for the next three weeks, but the number of people who can meet outdoors for exercise has risen from two to four.
First Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales: “Our top priority will remain schools but the number of people who can meet up outside will increase from two to four.”
The four people need to still live in the same locality and can start and finish their exercise from their own front door.
“The stay at home messages continues,” Mr Drakeford said.
“We are slowly moving into some better weather, and we know the mental health impact of having to remain at home. If four people can meet up for exercise we hope that is a marginal easement.”
He added that more elite athletes will be allowed to go into training.
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Mr Drakeford revealed he has also held talks with members of the tourism industry in Wales to look at the possibility of opening some forms of holiday accommodation by Easter.
He was very cautious, warning that a lot can happen in six weeks, but said that the Welsh Government was looking at the possibility of some “limited” re-opening of self-contained accommodation only. This year, Easter falls on the first weekend of April, with Good Friday on April 2.
“We are looking at opening places where people don’t mix with other people, where there aren’t shared facilities,” he explained to BBC Breakfast.
“That is how we began the re-opening of tourism in Wales last year. If we can bring that forward to Easter I know that will be some relief to many hundreds of thousands of families in Wales. Six weeks is a very long time, so we will have to make that final decision closer to the time.”
Furthermore, non-essential shops and hairdressers could soon reopen in Wales providing the situation around coronavirus continues to improve — you can read the full details on that here. The Welsh Government has confirmed that it will be looking at the restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services as part of its next 21-day review which will end on Friday, March 12.
Lifting restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services would include hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists, dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers. This is likely to be a staggered approach so no specific date has been set.
And the Welsh Government says all primary pupils and some older students will return to schools and colleges from Monday, March 15 if the public health situation continues to improve.


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MANILA, Philippines - Acting Malabon City Mayor Antolin Oreta III has ordered city officials to go after traders using defective and unsealed weighing scales.
Oreta's directive came after the Treasurer's Office headed by Amalia Santos seized about 230 weighing scales from public markets during their inspection from February to August this year.
In her report to the office of the mayor, Santos said most of the scales were taken from the Hulong Duhat Public Market, Malabon Central Market, New Commercial Market, Acacia Market and Sancti Market also in Acacia.
The inspection was launched after the Treasurer's office received complaints from consumers who were shortchanged using faulty scales just after the monsoon floods.
The confiscated scales were brought to the Treasurer's office for proper issuance of seal and calibration before they are released to owners.
The owners can redeem their devices only after paying a fine.
Weighing scales found with no seal will be redeemed for P200, while defective weighing scales will be redeemed for P100, Santos said.


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Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC), regulator of Ivory Coast’s coffee industry, has introduced a new scheme to reduce coffee stock accumulated during the current season (2017-18) due to challenges in the marketing system.
This mechanism initiated by the government will be executed by SIFCA-COOP, a subsidiary of CCC which purchases coffee and, the regulator said in a statement.
The move, according to the statement, is to “help exhaust the available coffee stocks over a short period of time.”
Since February this year, the coffee marketing system in the West African country has been marred by cargo congestion in local ports and the unusual volume of coffee in operators’ stores.
The situation prompted a strike action from the National Agricultural Union for Progress (SYNAP-CI), which boots of about 57,000 coffee producers.


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TALLADEGA, Ala. -- It's not necessarily a match made in heaven, but it's certainly a match made in the dirt roads of the South.
NASCAR, about to conclude its 70th season, finally has an "official moonshine" of the sport.
Sugarlands Distilling Company has entered a five-year sponsorship deal with NASCAR for its Sugarlands Shine to become the official moonshine of a racing series with bootlegger roots.
This moonshine is legal, and the products will carry a NASCAR logo. The company also is going to create an old-school, clear, corn whisky limited-edition moonshine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Talladega Superspeedway, where the company will sponsor a truck series race starting next season.
"We're obviously really proud of our heritage, and there is an authentic connection between moonshine and NASCAR," NASCAR Chief Revenue Officer Jon Tuck said Friday at Talladega. "Our focus was on finding the right brands, a high-quality brand that is a fit with our fan base. That is what these guys are."
NASCAR, long known for its beer sponsors, did not allow teams to have distilled liquors as a team sponsor until 2005. It still took 14 years for NASCAR as a sanctioning body to land what seems to be the most appropriate sponsor for the sport. Cars have had moonshine sponsors, but never the sanctioning body.
"Moonshine was of interest to us because of the connection," Tuck said. "Moonshine is one of the hottest segments in spirits."
This is the first venture into sports marketing for the company, which opened in 2014 and is based in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Edward Vickers, president of Sugarlands, said the company did a survey about 18 months ago to identify its customer interests, and the top two were country music and NASCAR.
"About that time, NASCAR reached out to us and said, 'Hey, the liquor category is open, we'd love to talk to you guys,'" Vickers said.
"It just kind of lined up naturally. ... When you start talking about demographic studies, NASCAR indexed off the charts with our customers."


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We’ ve all existed. Running low on batteries, diapers, socks whatever browse the web, order and click the totally free two-day shipment choice. Due to the fact that, why not? It’ s complimentary and it ’ s quick.
What individuals might not understand is that the fast shipment comes at an ecological expense.
A brand-new video launched by the University of California and Vox as part of their Climate Lab series intends to accentuate the unintentional effects of our requirement for pleasure principle by highlighting the incredible scale of the digital shopping transformation.
Since 2009, U.S. Postal Service shipments have actually increased by 65 percent, inning accordance with UC Davis. As the vacation shopping season methods, it’ s approximated that online sales for November and December alone will strike $107.4 billion .
E-commerce has actually made individuals’ s lives much easier. Nearly 80 percent of Americans store online, and they can do so whenever, anywhere. One in 5 individuals even do it while utilizing the restroom.
It can likewise be greener than going to physical shops, considering that individuals wear ’ t have to leap in their vehicles to obtain to there. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology research study discovered that a conventional store-visiting consumer had a carbon footprint practically 2 times that of an online buyer.
However, there ’ s an essential caution. If the consumer chooses rapid shipment, this ecological benefit of online shopping vanishes.
“ These rush shipments are the ones breaking those advantages since now there is no time at all to combine, so there will be more journeys for less freight, ” stated Miguel Jaller, an assistant teacher at UC Davis.
In severe cases, products might need to be flown in from another state or from another nation. But the larger concern is that business have less time to arrange the most effective transportation, which indicates trucks are sent half complete, increasing the variety of journeys and automobiles on the roadway.
Carbon emissions per client and per item soar as an outcome. Why this matters? These emissions trap heat, adding to environment modification .
A multi-year research study by the University of Delaware, concentrating on Newark, Delaware, discovered that online shopping strained the transport system in regards to speed, travel times and emissions. Delivery trucks contributed to air contamination and wear and tear on the roadways, the report kept in mind.
“ Generally speaking, slower ground shipping is the greener option over air shipping, ” Mingxin Li, co-author of the research study and a researcher at the Delaware Center for Transportation, stated. “ The occurrence of pricey, ineffective, and ecologically unsustainable fast, totally free shipment choices, air cargo or partial-load shipments are ending up being significantly typical.”
What are the services? Smart traffic signal are one concept in UC’ s video. These are being checked in cities, consisting of Los Angeles . The city’ s system utilizes computer systems, video cameras and sensing units to change signals responsively to keep traffic moving efficiently. This can make journeys quicker and decrease idling, which lowers emissions.
While such systems are useful, traffic might just be a minimal impact on contamination in some cities, stated Josu Velzquez, director of the MIT Sustainable Logistics Department. “ There are numerous other aspects that impact the transport emissions throughout shipment, ” he stated, such as the hilliness of the path.
Then there is “ platooning. ” Wirelessly linked trucks interact with each other , preserving a continuous speed in a close line at highway speeds. Fans state this can decrease blockage, enhancing and reducing emissions air quality. A current paper from research study business TNO states platooning might decrease fuel usage by around 10 percent .
But lowering the effect of shipping is likewise about altering buyers ’ habits and a few of the impulses of consumerism, stated Jaller. “ We have to manage ourselves. I believe there ’ s likewise a great deal of spontaneous purchasing and caused need. ”
Free rapid shipping for all these products might appear a no-brainer, however “ we have to understand that it ’ s not totally free for the system and for the environment, ” Jaller stated. “ So we are not paying that externality . ”
Jaller stated altering customer habits is the method to fix the issue, whether that ’ s through rewards, taxes, or just openness about the real expense of online product or services.
One concept making headway is a “ green button ” on shopping sites, which permits clients to make the environment-friendly option of waiting a bit longer for their shipment to guarantee it is delivered in the most energy-efficient method.
Green buttons are something Velzquez has actually been evaluating at MIT. Supplying an alternative that states “ same-day shipment is comparable to eliminating 3,000 trees ” compared to one that states “ if you wait 3 to 4 days, then it ’ s comparable to eliminating 10 trees, and by the method we are going to plant 15, ″ can actually own habits, he stated.
Of course, shipment is simply part of the effect of the items we take in, which a research study in the Journal of Industrial Ecology approximates adds to more than 60 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. It may be a great location to begin.
HuffPost ’ s “ This New World ” series is moneyed by Partners for a New Economy and the Kendeda Fund. All material is editorially independent, without any impact or input from the structures. If you ’d want to contribute a post to the editorial series, send out an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org!.?.!


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AudioFly’s AF 100W, which was launched at CES 2017, is now available in Australia.
The VPI ‘Voyager’ phono preamplifier is available now in the US, and will soon be available in Australia from distributor Krispy Audio.
AudioFly has released its long-awaited AF56W wireless earphones, and also announced pricing ($139) for this new model.
McIntosh has released what it says is its first-ever hybrid integrated amplifier.
Australian company AudioFly has released a set of Bluetooth earphones that retails for less than $60.
NAD has upgraded its T777 7-channel AV Receiver by adding Dolby Atmos, BluOS and 4K UHD. The new model, known as the V3, will be available later this month.
David Jones has opened ‘David Jones Technology’, where customers can experience the latest technologies from Bang & Olufsen, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Audiopro, Naim, Devialet, Yamaha, harman-kardon, Native Union, Sennheiser and Master & Dynamic.
Advance Audio Australia is now the exclusive distributor of Soundcast in Australia.
Exposure Electronics has added to the compact ‘XM’ series of hi-fi components it released earlier this year with a new preamplifier, the XM7.
Japanese phono cartridge manufacturer Transfiguration has released a ‘D’ version of its top-line Proteus cartridge, which has a diamond cantilever.
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Watts USA Appoints New GM
A new general manager has been appointed to the Watts Tyre Group’s US operations. David R. Brown, a twenty-year tyre industry veteran, will in his new role with Watts USA oversee all aspects of the company’s business operations in the US market.
Prior to his appointment David Brown was the owner and president of Southern Industrial Tire of Central Florida and Southern Industrial Tire and Wheel. Watts believes that Brown’s knowledge of the industrial tyre market, both in the retail sector and with regards to dealer networks, will be a significant asset to the company at a time when it is working towards expanding its presence and operations in the US market.
Following Watts USA’s acquisition of DiPrima Tires’ industrial tyre division in March 2007 the company sees itself as well placed to continue this US market expansion, a step Watts views as one that will bring it closer to its goal of becoming the world’s leading tyre and wheel supplier to the materials handling industry.
Watts Tyre Group chief executive Jean-Paul Mindermann commented: “Our activities over the last 12 months in the USA demonstrate our commitment to become a leading player in this key market. We believe that with our product range, business philosophy and industry knowledge we offer a great proposition to customers.”


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Singapore, 23 April 2014 – Over 80 awards were given out today to companies of consumer products and services at the AsiaOne People's Choice Awards 2014.
The AsiaOne People's Choice Awards 2014 is the website’s initiative to give consumers an opportunity to vote for Singapore’s favourite consumer products and services.
AsiaOne is a news and lifestyle website which aggregates the rich content of Singapore Press Holdings’ (SPH) newspapers and magazines.
More than 200,000 votes from the public were cast over a three-month voting period for 300 nominations over 28 categories.
In a reflection of the growing diversity of choices for consumers, four new categories were added: Best Family-Friendly Mall, Best Attraction, Best Boutique Hotel and Best Cafe.
The Best Family-Friendly Mall, Best Chinese Restaurant and Best Bank attracted the most number of votes.
The Guest-of-Honour for the awards, Mr Kurt Wee, President of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME), noted that AsiaOne People’s Choice Awards plays an important role in providing feedback from consumers to companies.
Mr Wee said: "With technology, it is so much easier and convenient for the public to express their satisfaction or unhappiness with products and services.”
Commenting on why his company chose to sponsor the AsiaOne People’s Choice Awards 2014, Mr Chan Kee Siak, CEO of Exabytes Network (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, said: “We always need recommendations as there are so many options out there. The AsiaOne People's Choice Awards stands out as one of the neutral sources for recommendations, voted by the people, for the people.“
Carousel was a double winner this year, scooping up its fifth Best Buffet Restaurant award as well as being inducted into the AsiaOne People's Choice Awards' Hall of Fame.
Winners who have received the AsiaOne People’s Choice Award five times are honoured with a place in the Hall of Fame.
Mr Adrian Tay, Editor of AsiaOne, said: "The People's Choice Awards is a platform for consumers to have their voices heard, and the year-on-year increase in votes is a testament to that.”
Guests at the awards were treated to delicacies from award-winning restaurants Carousel and Kuishin Bo.
For more information, please visit www.asiaone.com/pca
Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Co. Regn. No. 198402868E
For more information, please contact:
AsiaOne, Digital Media Group
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
DID: 6319 5121
Email : firstname.lastname@example.org
Corporate Communications and CSR Division
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
DID : 6319 2261
Email : email@example.com
About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia’s leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms.
Newspapers, Magazines and Book Publishing
SPH has 19 titles licensed under the Newspaper Printing and Presses Act, of which nine are daily newspapers across four languages. On an average day, 3.05 million individuals or 76 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications. SPH also publishes and produces more than 100 magazine titles in Singapore and the region, covering a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information technology. SPH's subsidiaries, Straits Times Press and Focus Publishing, produce quality books and periodicals in English and Chinese.
Internet and Mobile
Beyond print, SPH's suite of digital products, including online editions of newspapers and magazines, as well as mobile applications, enjoy over 400 million page views with 20 million unique visitors every month. Apart from AsiaOne, SPH’s online and new media initiatives include ST701, the leading online marketplace for jobs (STJobs), property (STProperty), cars (STCars) and general classifieds (STClassifieds); Stomp, omy.sg and The Straits Times RazorTV. SPH also launched The Straits Times’ iPad and enhanced iPhone applications, an Android smartphone application and The Business Times’ iPhone application. SPH’s Chinese flagship newspaper Lianhe Zaobao has also launched its digital editions which include a web application, as well as online and PDF versions.
In the radio business, SPH Radio Pte Ltd operates entertainment stations UFM 100.3 in Mandarin, as well as Kiss92 and HOT FM91.3 in English. SPH has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.
Events and Out-of-Home Advertising
SPH’s events arm Sphere Exhibits organises innovative consumer and trade events and exhibitions as well as large scale conferences in Singapore and the region. In addition, SPH has ventured into out-of-home (OOH) advertising through its digital out-of-home platform SPHMBO.
SPH REIT is a Singapore-based REIT established principally to invest, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used primarily for retail purposes in Asia-Pacific, as well as real estate-related assets. SPH REIT is managed by SPH REIT Management Pte. Ltd., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
The initial portfolio of SPH REIT comprises the following two high quality and well located commercial properties in Singapore:


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On Thursday evening at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, the “Unstoppable: Signature Styles of Iconic Women in Fashion” auction debuted, featuring a rare lineup of iconic pieces worn by some of the most famous and influential women of the 20th and 21st centuries—Princess Diana and Sarah Jessica Parker included.
As guests entered the auction house, Princess Di’s sleek black Catherine Walker cocktail dress was, of course, displayed front and center. It is a chic black silk velvet minidress with white stripes at the off-the-shoulder neckline and hem, which the late Princess of Wales wore to a private event. The piece sold for $325,000, over three times the original estimate of $100,000.
Julien’s still holds the record for selling at auction the most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana: her celestial Jacques Azagury dress, which sold last year for $1.1 million at the house’s “Hollywood Legends” auction.
Another incredibly iconic piece up for bid last night? The tutu Sarah Jessica Parker wears in the opening credits of Sex and the City. The romantic little white three-tier skirt with a satin waistband sold for $52,000—six and a half times the original estimate. SATC costume designer Patricia Field found the tutu for $5 in a clothes bin in New York City.
Also in the auction were Princess Grace of Monaco’s 1961 green wool tweed Givenchy ensemble, which she wore to the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy (sold for $325,000); a cream Karl Lagerfeld caftan wore by Elizabeth Taylor (sold for $6,500); Audrey Hepburn’s 1970 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche dress, which she wore to her son’s christening (sold for $13,000); and the golden Burberry London trench coat Whitney Houston wore for her performance at the Mawazine music festival in Morocco in 2008 (sold for $4,550).
For two decades, Julien’s has been a leading music and entertainment auction house. “Unstoppable” is the latest offering in its luxury fashion category.
Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.


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Microsoft's OneNote team held an AMA chat on Reddit today, and talked about their plans for the note-taking app. The team stated that it was working on a new user interface for the app that will be revealed soon.
The Reddit AMA session included this response to a question about if the team was working on something major that it could hint about. The answer was very interesting:
We're working on a ton of great features, including a brand-new UI which is more accessible and consistent across platforms. We think you'll really like it, and you'll be able to try it for yourself very soon!
The OneNote team also discussed the differences between the desktop OneNote app and the Windows 10 version in response to one user who felt that having two separate Windows apps was confusing:
We know that having two versions of OneNote on Windows is confusing, and we're working on some things which should clear up this confusion.
The bigger answer to your question is that OneNote 2016 has been a great app that we've been developing for over 13 years. As the app continued to grow we started to identify areas that our customers and business mutually benefitted from. As we pivot to a more modern code base, we're prioritizing Windows 10's capabilities to let us ship faster, build things more easily, and create deeper integrations into the operating system, such as the ability to launch OneNote above lock on Surface with the click of a pen. We recently added new ink features to the Windows 10 app and made it much simpler to use. We hope these will delight our users, even those who previously embraced the desktop app. Stay tuned for more features we think you will love!
The AMA session was both informative and enteraining and you can check out all of it at Reddit's site.
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Alexandre Gama is known in the advertising industry for his expertise and creative mind. Over the past 40 years he has made himself the go-to guy when it comes to advertising and communication, particularly in his home country of Brazil. A graduate of Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation, Gama is an advertising man through and through. he is also a well-respected entrepreneur and investor.
Gama decided to form his own ad agency, Neogama, in 1999 after nearly 20 years as a copywriter and creative director at a number of agencies. His company has won numerous awards and Gama has been recognized for his work on a number of occasions over the years.
Alexandre recently announced that Neogama will focus on the Brazilian market in the future after years of doing work for markets across the globe. Gama will continue to run the day-today operations of the company, something no one ever doubted.


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Mixtape DJ Mick Boogie has hooked up with RBK/Reebok for a new series of mixtapes.
The series, titled the RBK Artist Spotlight, will feature various RBK artists, including Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Pharrell, Lupe Fiasco and Lil Wayne.
Fiasco will grace the first edition of the series while promoting his new shoe, The OG.
“I’m very excited to be a part of this project,” Boogie said. “Mixtapes are one of the greatest promotional tools in the urban marketplace, and I appreciate RBK for recognizing contributions that the mixtape has made to the urban culture and choosing me for this project. RBK already has some of the best shoes… and I look forward to working with them to create some of the best mixtapes!”
Boogie’s inclusion in the series was a natural fit, according to RBK marketing representative Ron Shaw.
“When I was putting this project together, I knew Mick was the only DJ with the creative vision to make our promo CD sound like something people should have bought,” he said.
The RBK Artist Spotlight mixtapes, which are not available commercially, will drop every few months and be distributed by RBK field marketing reps at various Reebok urban events and key sneaker stores across the country.
For more information, visit MickBoogie.com.


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On Thursday the Gore Police Dept. recovered a device designed to steal credit card numbers from the inside of a gas pump at a Gore convenience store, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office reported.
After contacting the FBI and Secret Service, it was discovered that this card reader had been hard wired into the existing card scanner on the pump. The perpetrators use these devices to download credit card information and hack into accounts.
It has been reported that these types of devices have been found more and more frequently around the country in recent months. Authorities warn credit card customers to be cautious and do regular checks of your accounts.
The sheriff’s office will be passing out flyers to area businesses, warning them of these devices. If you have been a victim of credit card theft/fraud, contact the U.S. Secret Service at 918-581-7272 or Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office 918-775-1213.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com


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26,000 MSMEs registered under fragrance and flavour sector so far
New Delhi, Sept 23 (KNN) Under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the fragrance and flavour sector about 26,000 industries have been registered up to now, said B. B. Swain, Secretary MSME.
Addressing the Fragrance Business Summit by FICCI, he highlighted India’s potential to grow and meet the demands both domestically and internationally.
He assured that for the progress and development of fragrance industry in India the Ministry would lend all the possible support.
“It is important to handhold industries with suitable interventions in sustainable technology and infrastructure as a large number of MSME players are part of this sector,” added Swain.
He also pressed on the importance to build a sustainable supply chain, strengthening each link in it.
To offer technology and skilling support to the MSMEs the Ministry has set up a Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre at Kannauj. (KNN Bureau)


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According to the latest Counterpoint report, Online smartphone market in India now stands at 43% market share, registering a growth of 17% year-on-year. Flipkart remains the leader in the online segment with a 53% market share, but Amazon registered the highest 38% Year-on-Year growth.
As for smartphone brands, Xiaomi still retains a comfortable lead but burgeoning competition from Realme and Samsung have made a noticeable dent in its share.
Commenting on the findings, Anshika Jain, Research Analyst stated, “Price cuts of popular devices and more launches drove online channel shipments to the highest ever level In Q1 2019. Xiaomi’s Redmi 6A, and Note 6 and 7 series, Samsung’s online exclusive M series, Realme 3, HONOR 10 Lite, and ASUS Zenfone Max Pro series were the major contributors for the growth of the online segment. The high online channel share indicates that the new e-commerce policy has limited impact, and e-commerce giants have found a way to cope.”
Indian smartphone market Q1 2019: Key Highlights
- Redmi 6A was the best selling phone online in India in Q1, 2019. The sales were high in the latest Amazon sale.
- Redmi Note 6 Pro, Redmi 6A, and Redmi Note 7 series contributed to two third of Xiaomi’s online sales.
- With 11% market share, Realme is now the third largest brand online followed by Asus, which now holds the fourth spot.
- Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 was the fastest growing segment driven by Xiaomi and Huawei phones. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro was the best performing model in this segment.
- With its new aggressive online stance and the new affordable M-series, Samsung registered 31% year-on-year growth and increased its market share to 15%.
- The offline market segment declined 4% year-on-year.
The report reflects what has been fairly obvious. This year a number of brands are challenging Xiaomi with aggressively priced offerings and are gradually eating up in its market share.
Xiaomi still retains the top spot by a comfortable margin, but the majority of the growth comes from a select few models. The results from the next quarter (Q2, 2019) should be even more interesting.
According to an earlier report from counterpoint that considered the collective online and offline share of different brands in Q1 2019, Xiaomi held 29% market share, and Samsung followed close at 23%. Vivo stood third with 12% market share and Realme stood fourth with 7% market share.


text: Any new mom can attest to the fact that jewelry is a hazard when holding a baby! Fortunately, there’s a stylish new alternative from Stefany Koo, a Northern Kentucky mom and jewelry designer. Wear Tough offers organic, silicone teething necklaces that are safe and toxin-free, and are FDA complaint. “They are free of BPA, lead, PVC, latex, cadmium, and other nasty stuff,” says Koo, adding that the necklaces are top-rack dishwasher safe, clean easily with soap and water, are heat resistant, have no taste or smell. “They work great as a sensory tool during breastfeeding or to help during the teething process,” she says. “Throwing them in the freezer for a little bit can do wonders for a teething baby!” The necklaces also come with a re-sealable, FDA-compliant storage bag. Choose from a variety of designs (with more on the way!) at weartough.com.